History & National Movement

WBPSC Misc 202320 questions

1. Q1

   Who is the author of the book 'Man Makes Himself'?

   • AA. L. Basham
   • BRomila Thapar
   • CV. Gordon Childe
   • DD. D. Kosambi
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) V. Gordon Childe

   V. Gordon Childe, the Australian-born prehistoric archaeologist, wrote 'Man Makes Himself' (1936), a classic work on the Neolithic and Urban revolutions in human society.

2. Q2

   "Sabe munise paja mama"—Who said?

   • ALord Rishabha
   • BEmperor Ashoka
   • CGoutamiputra Satakarni
   • DSuparshvanath
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Emperor Ashoka

   The phrase 'Sabe munise paja mama' (all men are my children) is from the edicts of Emperor Ashoka, reflecting his paternalistic Dhamma policy toward his subjects.

3. Q3

   Name the Sultan who banned hoarding of essential commodities in India.

   • AIltutmish
   • BBalban
   • CAlauddin Khalji
   • DFiroz Shah Tughlaq
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) Alauddin Khalji

   Alauddin Khalji introduced market/price control reforms banning hoarding of essential commodities to keep prices stable for his army and populace.

4. Q4

   Who took the title of 'Sakalauttarapathanatha'?

   • ASasanka
   • BHarshavardhan
   • CLaxamanasena
   • DDharmapala
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Harshavardhan

   Harshavardhana of the Pushyabhuti dynasty assumed the title 'Sakalauttarapathanatha' (Lord of the entire north), reflecting his supremacy over northern India.

5. Q5

   What is 'Dharmachakra Pravartana'?

   • AIn Buddhism, it is a state of enlightenment.
   • BDeath of Lord Buddha.
   • CAfter going enlightenment, Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath.
   • DAll of the above
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   Correct answer: (C) After going enlightenment, Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath.

   'Dharmachakra Pravartana' (turning of the wheel of law) refers to the Buddha delivering his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment, in which he preached the Four Noble Truths to his five disciples.

6. Q6

   August movement was started in India in the year

   • A1942
   • B1920
   • C1930
   • D1946
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) 1942

   The August Movement is another name for the Quit India Movement, launched by Gandhi on 8 August 1942 demanding an end to British rule.

7. Q7

   Last Governor General of British India and first viceroy of British India was

   • ALord Canning
   • BLord Dalhousie
   • CLord Curzon
   • DLord Mountbatten
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) Lord Canning

   Lord Canning was the last Governor-General and the first Viceroy of British India, holding office when the Crown took over from the East India Company in 1858.

8. Q8

   Who introduced Mansabdari System?

   • ASher Shah
   • BAkbar
   • CMurshid Quli Khan
   • DMahmud Gawan
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Akbar

   The Mansabdari system, a ranking and administrative structure of nobles and officers, was introduced by the Mughal emperor Akbar.

9. Q9

   Who was the last Viceroy and last Governor-General of India?

   • ALord Wavell and Lord Mountbatten
   • BLord Linlithgow and Lord Wavell
   • CLord Mayo and Lord Wavell
   • DLord Mountbatten and C. Rajagopalachari
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) Lord Mountbatten and C. Rajagopalachari

   Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India (and first Governor-General of independent India), while C. Rajagopalachari became the last Governor-General of India, serving until the country became a republic in 1950. Hence option D correctly pairs the last Viceroy with the last Governor-General.

10. Q10

    Who among the following was not a member of Cabinet Mission?

    • APathik Lawrence
    • BJohn Simon
    • CSir Stafford Cripps
    • DA. V. Alexander
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (B) John Simon

    The 1946 Cabinet Mission had three members: Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander. John Simon (of the earlier Simon Commission) was not a member, so option B is correct.

11. Q11

    Who among the following ancient Indian rulers protected his principality from Hun invasion?

    • ASamudragupta
    • BSkandagupta
    • CAshoka
    • DKanishka
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (B) Skandagupta

    Skandagupta, the Gupta ruler, successfully repelled the invasions of the Hunas (Huns) in the 5th century CE, as recorded in the Bhitari and Junagadh inscriptions. Hence option B.

12. Q12

    Who was the founder of Ajivika Sect?

    • AMahavira
    • BGoshala Makkhaliputta
    • CAjitanath
    • DSumatinatha
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (B) Goshala Makkhaliputta

    The Ajivika sect, a fatalist ascetic order contemporary with early Buddhism and Jainism, was founded by Goshala Makkhaliputta (Makkhali Gosala), making option (b) correct.

13. Q13

    Who said, "Man is born free, but is everywhere in chains"?

    • AJ. J. Rousseau
    • BMontesquieu
    • CDiderot
    • DJ. P. Sartre
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (A) J. J. Rousseau

    The famous line 'Man is born free, but is everywhere in chains' opens 'The Social Contract' (1762) by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, so option (a) is correct.

14. Q14

    Who planted "Tree of Liberty" in Mysore?

    • AChikka Devaraja Wadiyar
    • BKrishmaraja Wadiyar
    • CTipu Sultan
    • DHyder Ali
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (C) Tipu Sultan

    Tipu Sultan of Mysore, inspired by the French Revolution, planted a 'Tree of Liberty' at Srirangapatna and joined a Jacobin club, so option (c) is correct.

15. Q15

    Chhuti Khan, Governor of Chittagong during medieval period ordered his court poet to translate :-

    • AQuran
    • BZend Avesta
    • CMahabharat
    • DBible
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (C) Mahabharat

    Chhuti Khan (Chhuti/Chuti Khan), a governor of Chittagong in the medieval period, patronised the translation of the Mahabharata into Bengali, so option (c) is correct.

16. Q16

    Name the first newspaper in India.

    • ABengal Gazette
    • BSamvad Kaumudi
    • CMirat-ul-Akbar
    • DHindoo Patriot
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (A) Bengal Gazette

    India's first newspaper was the Bengal Gazette (Hicky's Gazette), started by James Augustus Hicky in Calcutta in 1780, so option (a) is correct.

17. Q17

    Who among the following never presided a Session of Indian National Congress?

    • ASubhas Chandra Bose
    • BDadabhai Naoroji
    • CBal Gangadhar Tilak
    • DWomesh Chandra Bonnerjee
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

    Bal Gangadhar Tilak never presided over a Congress session; Bose, Naoroji and Bonnerjee all did, so option (c) is correct.

18. Q18

    India's first paper mill was built at

    • ACalcutta
    • BSerampore
    • CNaihati
    • DAsansol
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (B) Serampore

    India's first paper mill was set up at Serampore (Srirampur) in Bengal in the early 19th century, so option (b) is correct.

19. Q19

    Who was the first British Chief Justice of Supreme Court during British period?

    • ASir Robert Chambers
    • BSir Edward Hyde
    • CSir Henry Russell
    • DSir Elijah Impey
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (D) Sir Elijah Impey

    Sir Elijah Impey was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William, Calcutta, established under the Regulating Act of 1773, so option (d) is correct.

20. Q20

    Who remarked, "I am revolution and I destroyed the revolution"?

    • AOtto von Bismarck
    • BNapoleon Bonaparte
    • CBenito Mussolini
    • DAdolf Hitler
    Show answer & solution

    Correct answer: (B) Napoleon Bonaparte

    Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose from the French Revolution and later crowned himself Emperor, is credited with the remark 'I am revolution and I destroyed the revolution', so option (b) is correct.